Jay has jobs glut

Help wanted signs have been appearing in windows all over Jay County.

The labor shortage is a drastic change from when the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, forcing many Hoosiers to stay home, shuttering non-essential businesses and shooting local unemployment levels to nearly 20%.

A little more than a year later, after coronavirus vaccines have been widely distributed and state officials have eased restrictions, local unemployment numbers are back to a pre-pandemic status of 3% again.

“A year ago, no one expected to be where we are today,” said Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards.

But that low statistic isn’t satisfying the glut of open positions. Richards estimated there are now at least 200 unfilled jobs in the county.

From temporarily closed to help wanted, businesses are struggling to find workers.

Despite the state allowing restaurants to re-open to full capacity again last month, Buffalo Wings and Rings in Portland is still limiting numbers because of a lack of staff. It is currently hiring for all positions and seeking between eight and 10 new employees.

“We do not have enough staff to give our VIP service, and we want to be able to give our employees a good balance of work and family time, and not burn them out,” said manager Ashley Knapschafer in an email.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Tuesday that Hoosiers seeking unemployment benefits will be required to actively seek full-time work again starting June 1. (Indiana Department of Workforce Development previously waived work-search requirement — it includes job applications, job fair attendance, participating in a WorkOne orientation and completing online workshops –– during the pandemic.)

Occupying more than 40% of the local workforce, manufacturers are also facing staff shortages.

Bree Steffen, human resources manager at Tyson Mexican Original, noted the company was looking to fill about 50 jobs –– most of them are third shift –– as of Sunday. She said in an email that Tyson had a “solid applicant flow” for employment in March and April 2020. Increased unemployment benefits and federal stimulus dollars, though, haven’t helped hiring efforts.

“It becomes more and more difficult to encourage individuals to apply for employment when they can make just as much or more to stay home,” she said.

Sonoco Protective Solutions plant manager Brian Hayes said the business is hiring second- and third-shift positions. He added that the openings aren’t necessarily related to the coronavirus.

“We have struggled for two-plus years building our rosters,” he said.

A direct effect of the pandemic, though, has been a booming business at Sonoco. Hayes explained the company has “remained strong,” if not grown, during the last year because of increasing demand.

“We’ve seen some record sales months through the pandemic, even stuff that might’ve been out of season,” Hayes noted.

Richards explained that the public has been spending more on tangible goods since other options were not available in 2020. Stuck at home, consumers began spending money other ways.

“During the pandemic, people couldn’t spend on experiences –– you know, restaurants, vacations, movies … so people have been spending on goods,” he said.

Shortages are drastically increasing the cost of material goods.

Lumber prices are up more than 300% since April 2020, according to the National Association of Home Builders website. Steel mill product prices have climbed 22% in the last three months, said association senior economist David Logan in a recent article for the website.

There’s also a shortage of electronic goods and automobiles because the supply for semiconductors, a crucial part to many modern-day items, isn’t meeting demand. As a result, stocking issues are facing manufacturers and retailers everywhere.

“Go try to buy a piece of furniture, or an appliance or fill in the blank. You’re going to wait,” Richards said. “It’s nuts. We’ve not experienced this in a long time… but it’s a global disruption.”

One attempt at remedying the local industry job shortage is the upcoming Jay County Signing Day. Slated for May 18 and 19, the inaugural event will bring local manufacturers to Jay County Junior and Senior High School with the intent to meet and hire students. It will be beneficial to both parties, Richards explained, because local manufacturers will get workers and students will get experience.

Both Steffen and Hayes plan for their businesses to attend, and both expressed excitement for the new event. Students have helped to fill positions at Sonoco in the past, Hayes noted. The company hired seven college students for the summer in 2020.

“(They) really helped fill a void we couldn’t get on a full-time basis,” he said.